50 Thanksgiving Family Activities to Make the Holiday Extra Special

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Looking for Thanksgiving family activities? Check out 50 fun and meaningful ways to connect with your entire family indoors, outdoors and out in your community!

Thanksgiving is all about connection—sharing a big meal, slowing down, and spending time with your entire family. But between the turkey, the Black Friday ads and the football games, it’s easy for the day to slip by without much meaningful interaction.

If you’re looking for Thanksgiving family activities that help create memories and bring generations together, this is the list for you! Whether you’re celebrating with little kids, teens, grandparents or a large group of family members, these 50 ideas offer a mix of indoor, backyard and community-friendly ways to bond, laugh, and soak up the season.

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At-Home Thanksgiving Family Activities

These cozy indoor ideas are perfect for any Thanksgiving celebration, especially if the weather keeps you inside.

1. Create Thanksgiving Handprint Turkeys
   A classic Thanksgiving craft that’s simple and sweet—ideal for toddlers and preschoolers developing motor skills. Grab a free printable Thanksgiving handprint turkey poem to make a cute keepsake!
2. Host a Family Talent Show
   Let each family member perform something fun, like jokes, songs, dances or skits. Bonus points for themed acts (like turkey impressions)!
3. Make a Thankful Tree
   Set up a DIY tree on the wall or with branches in a vase and let everyone write what they’re thankful for on leaves. You can also use this free printable to make thankful turkey crowns instead.
4. Have a “Thanksgiving Family Feud”
   Split into teams and play a Thanksgiving-themed version of the classic board game.
5. Play Would You Rather: Thanksgiving Edition
   Check out our Would You Rather Questions for Kids – Thanksgiving Edition for 80+ fun, silly prompts.
6. Decorate the Kid Table
   Let the kids take over decorating their table with DIY placemats, coloring pages and mini centerpieces.
7. Bake Thanksgiving-Themed Cookies
   Turn sugar cookies into turkeys, leaves, or Christmas tree shapes with icing and sprinkles.
8. Create a Gratitude Journal
   Each person writes or draws what they’re grateful for. It’s a great way to reflect before the big meal.
9. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
   Make it a morning tradition with snacks and cozy blankets on the couch.
10. Do a Thanksgiving Puzzle Together
    Choose one with a seasonal theme and work on it as a group all day.

Backyard Thanksgiving Activities

Let off some steam and enjoy the crisp fall air with these active and easy-to-set-up ideas.

11. Backyard Turkey Trot
    Create your own turkey trot fun run or obstacle course—no travel required!
12. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
    Use our Free Printable Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt for Kids to get everyone exploring outside.
13. Play Backyard Football
    A main event in many households on turkey day. Grab a ball and divide into teams (or let the kids run wild).
14. Build a Thankful Fort
    Use blankets, pillows, and lawn chairs to make an outdoor fort where kids can play or read.
15. Nature Walk + Gratitude Challenge
    Take a walk and challenge each family member to name one thing they’re thankful for from nature. Use the time to collective leaves to create leaf people if you need something to entertain the kids later, too.
16. DIY Thanksgiving Cornhole
    Decorate corn hole boards with leaves or turkeys—easy to adapt for all ages.
17. Leaf Pile Jumping
    Sometimes the simplest things are the best—rake and leap for good times together.
18. Chalk Thankfulness Mural
    Give the kids sidewalk chalk to create a giant sidewalk gratitude mural.
19. Turkey Tag
    Everyone gets a cloth “feather” in their back pocket. Try to snatch others’ feathers without losing your own!
20. Family Campfire + S’mores
    End the night with marshmallows, storytelling and hot cocoa under the stars.

Thanksgiving Activities That Involve Giving Back

These ideas turn gratitude into action—and can become beautiful Thanksgiving traditions.

21. Donate Food to a Local Pantry
    Let the kids help pick out Thanksgiving dinner favorites to donate—talk about helping others. This list of food drive items includes what most food pantries really need.
22. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen
    Serving a meal as a family is a good idea that will stay with your kids forever.
23. Create Blessing Bags
    Assemble snack bags or hygiene kits to give out in your community.
24. Deliver a Meal to a Neighbor
    Know someone elderly or sick nearby? Make a plate of Thanksgiving food and drop it off.
25. Write Letters to Troops or Nursing Homes
    A wonderful Thanksgiving craft idea for kids who love drawing and coloring.

Thanksgiving Games the Whole Family Will Love

These fun games are perfect for after-dinner energy or to keep the kids busy while the food cooks.

26. Thanksgiving Bingo
    Print free cards or make your own with pictures of turkeys, leaves and Thanksgiving dinner foods.
27. Guess the Dish
    Have everyone taste-test blindfolded and guess the Thanksgiving food (yes, that’s cranberry sauce).
28. Pin the Feather on the Turkey
    A festive twist on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey”—especially fun for little kids.
29. Thanksgiving Charades
    Act out things like “stuffing the turkey” or “football touchdown.”
30. Thanksgiving Mad Libs
    A great way to get kids laughing with creative writing and silly stories.
31. Gratitude Dice Game
    Roll and answer prompts like “Share one person you’re thankful for” or “Name your favorite Thanksgiving dish.”
32. Turkey Drawing Contest
    Draw with eyes closed or using your non-dominant hand for laughs.
33. Minute to Win It: Cranberry Spoon Race
    See who can carry the most cranberries across the room using only a spoon.
34. Pumpkin Bowling
    Use empty cans or water bottles and a mini pumpkin to bowl in the hallway.
35. Thanksgiving Pictionary
    Draw pilgrim hats, turkeys, Thanksgiving crafts and sweet potatoes for others to guess.

Thanksgiving Activities That Leave the House (and Create Lasting Memories)

Sometimes the best memories are made away from the house! Here are some Thanksgiving family activities you can do around your town.

36. Visit a Local Tree Lighting
    Start transitioning into the holiday season by attending a Christmas tree lighting together.
37. Watch a Local Parade
    If you don’t live near the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, check if your town has a smaller version!
38. Go Ice Skating
    Burn off those Thanksgiving feast calories with some chilly fun.
39. Try a New Restaurant
    Make a reservation for brunch or dessert at a family-friendly spot during Thanksgiving break.
40. Explore a Nature Trail
    Bundle up and take a hike or walk together. Make it a peaceful post-big meal tradition.
41. Go Black Friday Window Shopping
    Even if you don’t buy anything, people-watching and enjoying store displays can be a blast.
42. Attend a Community Play
    Many theaters do holiday productions around Thanksgiving Day. Support local actors and get festive!
43. Drive to See Holiday Lights
    Pile into the car with snacks and cocoa and visit the best-decorated homes or light displays in town.
44. Visit a Museum or History Center
    Tie in social studies by learning about Native American culture or the first Thanksgiving.
45. Attend a Local Sports Game
    If you’re not into the NFL football game, check out local high school or college football matchups instead.

Thanksgiving Family Projects That Make a Difference

Get crafty or creative with these bonding experiences for the entire family.

46. Create a Thanksgiving Scrapbook
    Add photos, drawings and reflections about this year’s celebration.
47. Film a Family Thanksgiving Video
    Have each person share what they’re thankful for and favorite memories.
48. Start a Thankful Jar
    Throughout the weekend, drop notes of gratitude into a jar to revisit next year.
49. Decorate for the Next Holiday Together
    Whether it’s Hanukkah or Christmas, bring out the décor and enjoy the transition.
50. Set a Family “Thankfulness Goal”
    Choose a simple kindness to do each day of Thanksgiving break—like helping a neighbor or sending a card.

Final Thoughts: The Best Thanksgiving Family Activities

No matter how you celebrate, these Thanksgiving family activities are a perfect way to bring your people closer this Thanksgiving Day. Whether you’re staying home, heading outside, or venturing into your community, there’s no shortage of good times to be had when you prioritize connection.

Looking for even more Thanksgiving activity inspiration? Don’t miss:

• Thanksgiving Poems That Rhyme
• Thanksgiving Trivia Questions for Kids
• Would You Rather Questions for Kids – Thanksgiving Edition

Wishing you and your entire family a joyful, playful, and meaningful Thanksgiving!

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